Lucia Albanesi, the world-renowned Arberesh artist, passed away. She was born in Torre Pelaso (Bari) in 1909. In 1934, she made her debut at the “Alla Scala” theater in Milan, performing as a substitute in Giacomo Puccini’s opera Madame Butterfly. Albanesi quickly rose to fame, achieving great success worldwide, particularly for her performances in Carmen, L’amico Fritz, and Madama Butterfly in Italy, France, and England. Lucia Albanesi debuted at The Metropolitan Opera in New York on February 9, 1940, playing a role she would perform over 300 times throughout her career. At the time of her Metropolitan debut, she was only 26 years old. She was celebrated for her acting talent and technical singing ability, demonstrating a high level of preparation for the lyrical stage. Throughout her career, Lucia Albanesi appeared in a variety of operas, primarily associated with works by Italian composers Giacomo Puccini and Giuseppe Verdi. Some of her best-known roles included the tragic geisha Cio-Cio-San in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, the delicate Parisian figure Mimi in La Boheme, and the ailing courtesan Violetta in Verdi’s La Traviata. She sang alongside many of the great tenors of her time, including Franco Corelli, Beniamino Gigli, Tito Schipa, Jussi Björling, and Giacinto Prandelli, and was a favorite of the renowned conductor Arturo Toscanini. In 1974, Albanesi founded the “Lucia Albanese-Puccini Foundation” to support young artists and singers. Throughout her career, Lucia Albanesi received numerous prestigious honors in the United States. On October 5, 1995, President Bill Clinton awarded her the National Medal of Arts. Five years later, in 2000, Mayor Rudy Giuliani presented her with the “Handel” medal, the highest honor given by the city of New York, in recognition of her contributions to the cultural life of the city. She passed away in 2014. (In the photo: Lucia Albanesi)
Text: Center of Studies and Publications for Arbëreshët, Tirana
Photo: © Center for Studies and Publications for Arbëreshët, Tirana
Graphic processing: AHCF
